DA Hogan thanks W. Brandywine community for support

Courtesy photo
District Attorney Tom Hogan publicly commended West Brandywine Township staffers at a meeting Thursday for help in the investigation of longtime Township Manager Ron Rambo. Rambo is serving a two to 23 month sentence at Chester County Farms. From left to right, Chester County Detective Tom Goggin, township staffers Carrie Pike and Terri Kelly, Hogan, and Assistant District Attorney Kevin Pierce.

WEST BRANDYWINE — District Attorney Tom Hogan publicly thanked the community and township staffers at Thursday’s meeting for assistance leading to former Township Manager Ronald Rambo Jr’s conviction for forgery and theft.

Hogan lauded staffers for standing up during what he said was a case of political corruption, and when at great risk to themselves.

Residents, staff and supervisors were often at odds for much of Rambo’s tenure. Rambo retired amidst the theft allegations and during a period of Turmoil after serving the township for more than 30 years, first as roadmaster and then manager.

Most of more than 80 audience members applauded loudly when Hogan presented Township Administrator Carrie Pike a plaque saluting township staffers.

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The plaque reads: “The Chester County District Attorney’s Office presents this commendation to the staff of West Brandywine Township for their commitment and courage in the investigation, arrest, and conviction of former township manager Ronald Rambo for theft and forgery.”

Rambo is serving a two to 23 month sentence at Chester County Prison. In May he was found guilty of four counts of theft and four counts of forgery after theft of less than $400. Rambo doctored medical, dental and pharmacy receipts. He also faces a five year probation sentence and will serve 100 hours of community service.

Hogan said that Rambo exploited his “extraordinary responsibility and extraordinary powers.”

Hogan compared Rambo’s theft to a cancer.

“There is no small cancer,” Hogan said. “You have to eradicate it. Otherwise it will take over your body and you will die.”

Hogan then paraphrased Irish political philosopher Edmund Burke: “The easiest way for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing,” Hogan said. The DA then said, “All it takes to defend evil is for good people to stand up.”

Hogan said that employees, Pike, Terri Kelly, clerk, and Linda Formica, administrative assistant stood up and accused a boss who if put back in charge might continue to make them suffer or simply fire them.

Supervisor Bill Webb said he supplied the district attorney’s office with the paper work which helped convict Rambo. Webb said, after meeting with Hogan, that he simply passed along the information given to him by Police Chief Walt Werner, which was already on file with the district attorney’s office, just two weeks after Webb was sworn in during January of 2012.

“I just did what I was elected to do and what was right,” Webb said. “The township has had a “rough ride.”

Webb also agreed with what he considered was Hogan’s partial placement of blame on the former board of supervisors for not responding when Rambo allegedly committed similar offences about nine years ago.

“Clearly the majority of the board had a clouded vision,” Webb said. “They had the opportunity to deal with that and they didn’t.”

After the meeting, Hogan said the court’s message was pretty clear.

“Public corruption will not be tolerated in Chester County,” he said. “I don’t know if (Rambo) will be rehabilitated but the message will go out to every public servant who handles public money.”

Later in the meeting, Obernier announced that during Wednesday’s municipal board executive session Rambo was removed from his salaried job as manager of the township municipal authority. Sandy Brock of Glenmoore was tapped as a temporary, part-time replacement.